Gianetta Palmer is a freelance writer who lives in the Georgia mountains. Her writing on health and car insurance, has appeared on numerous sites.
Expert reviewed
Expert reviewed
This article has been reviewed by a licensed Policygenius expert to ensure that sources, statistics, and claims meet our standard for accurate and unbiased advice.
Property & casualty claim consultant and expert witness
Britta M. Moss, CPCU, SCLA, AIC-M, has over 25 years of insurance industry experience. In her work as a property and casualty claim consultant, she provides consultation and expert witness services in claim handling standards, practices, and norms. She has been retained by law firms representing plaintiffs and those representing insurer defendants involved in disputes or litigation regarding coverage analysis, investigation, liability determination, damage evaluation, negotiation and settlement. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University.
Vermont’s frosty winters and year-round cool weather can make home improvement projects difficult and lead to further problems if issues aren’t fixed timely, so homeowners need a good home insurance plan to protect their investment.
The average cost of homeowners insurance in Vermont is $1,046 per year or $87 a month — $6 more per month than neighboring state, New Hampshire. This is around 45% lower than the national average of $1,899, making it a great deal for those in the Green Mountain State.
However, the cost isn’t the only factor to consider when choosing a home insurance company. Not sure what to look for? Policygenius can help you figure out your coverage needs and compare quotes from multiple top companies in Vermont.
Best homeowners insurance companies in Vermont
Of the companies we looked at, Vermont Mutual and Auto-Owners Insurance companies have the lowest home insurance rates in Vermont, with an average annual policy cost of $515 per year. USAA has the next lowest average rate at $879 per year.
Policygenius analyzed thousands of quotes from the 5 largest Vermont insurers to find the average cost of homeowners insurance with each company in 2022. We then looked at 2021 J.D. Power customer satisfaction scores and compared that with the coverage needs of Vermont residents to find the best homeowners insurance in Vermont.
Company
Average yearly cost
J.D. Power Rating
Vermont Mutual Insurance
$515
--
Co-operative Insurance
$1,135
--
State Farm
$1,116
835
USAA
$879
882
Auto-Owners Insurance
$515
831
Vermont Mutual
Vermont Mutual began slinging insurance all the way back in 1828, making it one of the oldest property and casualty insurers in the country. Today, it offers home insurance coverage with a special program for homeowners who run a business from home.
Pros
Policy add-ons include equipment breakdown coverage and underground service lines protection
Special home business endorsement offers coverage for your in-home business
Excellent customer service reviews
Industry-best financial ratings
Cons
Can't file a claim online — must call to speak to a representative
Vermont Mutual is one of the oldest property and casualty insurers in the country, dating back to 1828. It offers many policy add-ons including equipment breakdown coverage and underground service line protection. Vermont Mutual customers operating a home business may take advantage of a special program offering coverage for in-home businesses.
How to get a quote
Online through Vermont Mutual
Co-operative Insurance
Co-operative Insurance is one of the most popular home insurance providers in Vermont, offering coverage for traditional homes, at-home farms, and even mobile homes.
Pros
Identity theft resolution services and personal risk protection included in base policies
Offers coverage for at-home farms, including protection for livestock, hay, and machinery
Mobile home insurance policies available, including replacement cost coverage
Decent customer service ratings
Good industry reputation
File claims online
Cons
Not much information about coverage options and discounts available online
Co-operative Insurance includes identity theft resolution services and personal risk protection in its base policies. Co-operative Insurance offers home insurance for at-home farms (including protection for livestock, hay, and machinery), which is great for Vermont farmers, traditional homes, and mobile homes (including replacement cost coverage).
How to get a quote
Online through Co-operative Insurance
State Farm
There's a reason State Farm is one of the top-rated insurance companies in the U.S. — its customer satisfaction ratings are through the roof, it offers a slew of coverage add-ons for full protection, and makes filing claims through its mobile app a breeze.
Pros
Top-tier coverage add-ons, including equipment breakdown, water backup, and service line coverage
Get up to $1 million in personal liability coverage
Score discounts for bundling, installing security devices, and choosing a high deductible
File and track claims online, over the phone, in person, or through its mobile app
High customer satisfaction and financial strength ratings
Cons
No discounts for first-time homebuyers or going a year without a claim
State Farm offers top-tier policy add-ons, including equipment breakdown, water backup, and service line coverage. Customers benefit from online claims filing and tracking, in-person or over-the-phone representatives, and a full-service mobile app. Premium discounts for bundling, installing security devices, and high deductibles are available, plus State Farm customers can get up to $1 million in personal liability coverage.
How to get a quote
Online through State Farm
USAA
USAA's robust coverages and high marks for customer service and claims satisfaction make it a solid home insurance option for military members and their families.
Pros
Score discounts for zero claims, being a loyal USAA member, opting into e-billing, and more
Base policy includes coverages that cost extra with most other companies
Offers earthquake coverage — which is hard to come by
Get discounted home security systems and a discount on premiums through its partnership with ADT
Industry-best customer service and claims satisfaction ratings
Cons
Only available to military families
Doesn’t offer extended or guaranteed replacement cost dwelling coverage
USAA’s base policy includes coverages that most other companies will charge extra for, and it offers earthquake coverage as an add-on, which isn't too common. Premium discounts are offered to USAA’s military members and their families for zero claims, being a loyal USAA member, opting into e-billing, and more.
How to get a quote
Online through USAA
Auto-Owners Insurance
Auto-Owners is the 12th largest home insurance provider in the U.S. thanks to its low rates, numerous discounts, and robust coverage options — including inland flood insurance.
Pros
Excellent coverage add-ons, including inland flood insurance, guaranteed replacement cost, and equipment breakdown coverage
Flood insurance covers belongings in your basement — a rare find
Save on premiums by bundling policies, paying off your mortgage, choosing a high deductible, having a backup generator, and more
Cons
Can't file claims online — you must call or visit an agent to get started
Auto-Owners has a complete line of insurance products suitable for any needs or budget, which ranks it as the nation’s 12th largest home insurance provider. Customers can select from excellent coverage add-ons like guaranteed replacement cost, equipment breakdown coverage, and inland flood insurance. Auto-Owners flood insurance also covers belongings in your basement — an option not offered by many insurers.
How to get a quote
Online through Auto-Owners Insurance
Cheapest homeowners insurance companies by city in Vermont
Looking at average home insurance costs for the 15 most popular insurers in Vermont, we found that the cheapest homeowners insurance companies in the state are Auto-Owners and Vermont Mutual.
The average Auto-Owners Insurance rate in Danby is $522 per year, and homeowners in the state capital of Montpelier pay $487 per year with Vermont Mutual.
Shopping for home insurance in Vermont may seem as difficult as scaling Mount Mansfield on a blustery winter day, but the process can be quick and easy with help from the experts at Policygenius. We’ll help you find the policy that suits your home insurance needs at an affordable price.
In this section, we break down the average annual home insurance rates in Vermont for different coverage and deductible levels, the cheapest and most expensive home insurance companies for dog and pool owners and those with poor credit.
Vermont home insurance costs by coverage amounts
Dwelling coverage is the part of your homeowners policy that pays to repair or replace your home after a covered loss. Your dwelling coverage amount should be equal to your home’s replacement cost, and not the current market value — two amounts that can be vastly different.
With average Vermont home prices in the mid-$350,000 range, homes with dwelling coverage limits of $300,000 to $400,000 cost $1,046 to $1,332 each year to insure.
Dwelling coverage amount
Average yearly cost
$100,000
$491
$200,000
$762
$300,000
$1,046
$400,000
$1,332
$500,000
$1,631
Personal liability coverage is the portion of your home insurance policy that pays for medical, legal, or repair bills in the event you’re legally responsible for someone’s injury or property damage.
Liability coverage amount
Average yearly cost
$100,000
$1,045
$200,000
$715
$300,000
$1,046
$400,000
$689
$500,000
$1,137
Vermont home insurance costs by deductible amount
Your deductible is the amount you’re responsible for paying your insurance company before they reimburse you after a covered loss. A lower deductible means higher rates, but a lower out-of-pocket expense during a stressful time after a claim.
As you can see in the table below, Vermont residents can save around $120 on home insurance by choosing a $1,000 deductible over the $2,000 option.
Deductible amount
Average yearly cost
$500
$1,132
$1,000
$1,046
$2,000
$1,167
Home insurance discounts in Vermont
Some insurance companies offer discounts to homeowners if their homes have certain safety features like deadbolt locks, smoke detectors, and security systems. Although there isn’t a large discount for homeowners in Vermont for these features, having them added to your home goes a long way to help protect your family.
Discount
Average yearly cost
Dead bolt
$1,044
Smoke alarm
$1,043
Burglar alarm
$1,014
Home insurance companies in Vermont for dog owners
If you have a dog considered to be a “dangerous breed,” you may pay more for your homeowners insurance. A few insurance companies charge higher rates for certain breeds and could deny you coverage for your home if you own one.
With an average rate of $515 per year, Auto-Owners and Vermont Mutual companies have the cheapest home insurance rates in Vermont for a home with a dangerous dog breed.
Company
Average yearly cost
Auto-Owners Insurance
$515
Vermont Mutual Insurance
$515
USAA
$879
State Farm
$1,116
Co-operative Insurance
$1,135
Home insurance companies in Vermont for poor credit
A bad credit score can impact you financially for many years. Not only can you be denied credit, but you’ll also pay more for your insurance. Insurance companies consider bad credit to be an indicator of risky behavior and an increased risk of filing insurance claims. As such, many charge higher home and auto insurance rates.
With an average rate of $733 per year, Auto-Owners Insurance has the cheapest home insurance rates in Vermont for a homeowner with poor credit. Meanwhile, USAA rates are the highest of the providers we analyzed, with a $1,935 yearly rate.
Company
Average yearly cost
Auto-Owners Insurance
$733
Vermont Mutual Insurance
$891
Co-operative Insurance
$1,398
State Farm
$1,909
USAA
$1,935
Home insurance companies in Vermont for pool owners
Home insurance rates are higher for those with a swimming pool. Some insurance companies consider swimming pools to be high risk, meaning there’s a higher likelihood of liability claims.
With an average rate of $515 per year, Vermont Mutual and Auto-Owners Insurance companies have the cheapest home insurance rates for Vermont homes that have a swimming pool. Meanwhile, Co-operative Insurance has the most expensive rates at $1,135 per year.
Company
Average yearly cost
Auto-Owners Insurance
$515
Vermont Mutual Insurance
$515
USAA
$879
State Farm
$1,116
Co-operative Insurance
$1,135
How to buy homeowners insurance in Vermont
Homeowners in Vermont have many options when it comes to home insurance. But how do you know which company will put you first? Check out our list below for tips to help you find the right insurance company for your coverage needs.
Reach out to a licensed Policygenius agent. Our team of experienced insurance experts will listen to your coverage needs and help you find quotes that work the best for you.
Ask if you should purchase flood or hurricane coverage. If you live near a river or other body of water, flood insurance might be a good option. A Policygenius agent can answer all of your questions about flood insurance and available coverage add-ons.
Figure out if a higher deductible works for you. A higher deductible means you’ll have lower monthly or annual premiums. Just remember, you’ll need to come up with the full deductible amount before your provider reimburses you for a covered claim.
Compare quotes from a Policygenius agent. Once you’ve identified your coverage needs, limits, and deductibles, a Policygenius agent will send over a few quotes and answer any questions you might have about each policy.
Choose your policy, sign it, and make your first payment. After you’ve settled on the company that works best for you, Policygenius will do all of the paperwork for you. We'll even cancel your old policy if it isn’t expired yet.
What is the average home insurance cost in Vermont?
The average home insurance rate in Vermont is about $1,046 a year for $300,000 in dwelling coverage. That’s about $70 less per month than the national average. But, of course, your rate might be different based on your own coverage needs, limits, and deductibles. Always ask your provider about possible discounts that may apply to you.
Is it mandatory to have home insurance in Vermont?
While not legally required to have home insurance in Vermont, many mortgage lenders require you to purchase home insurance before extending a home loan. Lenders have a financial interest in the property until you pay off the loan, so they want to ensure it’s fully protected against any loss.
Why do some insurance companies charge home insurance higher rates to customers with a dangerous dog breed?
Insurance companies consider certain dog breeds as aggressive and more likely to cause injury to someone, resulting in more insurance claims. If you own a dangerous dog breed, your insurer might charge you more for home insurance becasue of the increased risk.
Methodology
Policygenius has analyzed home insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services in March 2022 for ZIP codes in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., for a 40-year-old female homeowner with no claim history, good credit, a $1,000 deductible, and the following coverage limits:
Dwelling: $300,000
Other structures: $30,000
Personal property: $150,000
Loss of use: $60,000
Liability: $300,000
Medical: $1,000
All rates based on the above coverage limits except where otherwise noted.
Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.
